VOCA Advocate
Legal Aid Society has an immediate opening for a Victim Advocate in its Nashville office. The Victim Advocate will work with victims of domestic violence in a two-county territory. A qualified applicant will be able to understand the law and issues pertaining to orders of protection and assist victims in identifying holistic needs and in securing rights, remedies, and appropriate services from other agencies. The Victim Advocate will also provide court accompaniment to clients, provide information on criminal victim compensation, provide community education, and maintain and develop positive working relationships with community agencies and law enforcement. This position is funded in part by a Metro-Community Enhancement grant and a VOCA grant from the Office of Criminal Justice Programs and the Victim Advocate must adhere to goals and outcomes spelled out in each grant contract. Legal Aid Society has thirty-two attorneys in eight offices in Middle and East Tennessee. Its attorneys provide low-income people expert legal assistance at all levels of state and federal court. Its staff includes national authorities in the fields of domestic violence, housing, consumer law, federal income taxation, health advocacy, nonprofit group representation, social security and special education. For more information about LAS, visit www.las.org.
Qualifications: High School diploma or GED required; BA/BS is preferred. Must be sensitive to and committed to providing high quality advocacy services to domestic violence victims and low-income people. Strong client interviewing, written and verbal skills are a must. Ability to understand the law and issues pertaining to orders of protection. Strong computer skills, the ability to learn complex material quickly, initiative, and strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Prior experience working in the legal field or with domestic violence victims is preferred. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish language is a plus. Some lifting (under 25 lbs) and light travel may be required. Salary: DOE. Excellent benefits.
Applications must include a cover letter, resume, three references (with phone numbers), and a writing sample. Send by mail or e-mail to: Human Resources Administrator Re: Victim Advocate Position Legal Aid Society 575 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 201 Oak Ridge, TN 37830 e-mail: HR@las.org Apply as soon as possible. Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.